Syllabus

Unit 1: Structure and variability of Earth's ionosphere

Introduction to neutral upper atmosphere and its interaction with solar radiation: Thermal structure of the atmosphere, Heat balance and temperature profile of thermosphere, Dissociation and diffusive separation and thermospheric composition, Exosphere, Solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere, Attenuation of solar radiation in the atmosphere, thermal effect of radiation, photochemical effects of radiation, Airglow

Formation of ionosphere and its processes: Structure of ionosphere, Production of ionospheric layers, Chapman’s theory of photoionization, Loss mechanisms and chemistry of ionospheric regions, Transport processes in the ionosphere, Electrical conductivity, plasma diffusion.

Equatorial electrodynamics: E region dynamo theory and Sq current system, Daytime equatorial electrojet, Equatorial ionization anomaly, sporadic E, F region dynamo, spread F, Prereversal enhancement, E region plasma instabilities

Unit 11: Space Weather

Geomagnetism: Earth as a magnet: magnetic field of the Earth, Van-Allen radiation belts, Plasmasphere, Magnetosphere, Interaction of Solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere

Geomagnetic storms: Geomagnetic storms, Geomagnetic indices, Effects of geomagnetic storms on the Earth's upper atmosphere and ionosphere: Electric field and neutral wind disturbances

Implications of Space weather effects: Effect on satellite electronics, satellite charging, satellite drag, heating of the neutral atmosphere, Effect on radiowave propagation, effect on communications and navigational outages

Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS): Importance SBAS, WAAS, GAGAN